Erhard Koehler

Erhard Koehler is a 1987 graduate of the State University of New York Maritime College, with a BE degree in Naval Architecture. After 3-½ years as a structural and field-support engineer with the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, he joined MARAD’s Office of Ship Operations in Washington, DC in 1991. An avid amateur maritime historian, Erhard enthusiastically jumped at the assignment in late 1992 to oversee Savannah’s return to MARAD custody from the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, and her subsequent 1994 drydocking and relocation to the agency’s reserve fleet site near Newport News, Virginia. He remained with the ship as a project engineer and member of the licensee organization during its protective storage period. In 2004 he succeeded to the agency’s senior Savannah management positions, and is responsible for all program activities related to licensed operations, maintenance, repair, custody and preservation of the Savannah.